Step-ladder.



B; B..KE|TH.

STEP LADDER. APPucAT'wN Flu-:D AuG.2I, 1916.

'Patented Aug. 7,1917.

Witnesses.

Attorneys BOYD n. KEITH-,L or MANsrr'nLn, carro., l

' srEr-Lnnnnn.

specification of :letters Patent. i

. Patented Aug.. 7, 1917.

T 0 all whom t may concern i Be it vknown that l, Born B. Krrria, a citiz'en of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the' countyl of'Riclrlaiidi and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Step-Ladder, of ,which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a bracing mechanism for a step ladder, to prevent the step ladder from swaying or tilting sidewise.l

The invention aims to `provide novel means whereby the upper ends of the props are connected with the step ladder in such a way that the props may be swung around against the outer sides of the legs of the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the parts which connect the pr'ops with the ladder, will constitute, also, a mechanism for connecting the legs of the ladder pivotally with the top platform 0f the ladder.

It is within the province of the dis closure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to whichl the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed'can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in front elevation, a step ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention, the props being in outstanding positions;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a ystep ladder embodying the present invention, the props being swung against the outer faces of the legs of the ladder;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sec-V tion, showing the means whereby the props are ivotally connected with the platform portion of the ladder; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar trating a slight modification in the invention. Y

The step ladder to which the disclosed invention is applied, may be constructed variously. In the present instance, it is to rig. a but nuse shown 'as comprising forward -leg's 1` connected by treads 2,- and rear legs 3, connected lby crossed ties 4. The forward legs 1 may' be connected with the rear legs 3 by means of folding braces 5. The ladder Yis shown as comprising a top platform 6 to which the legs 1l and 3 are pivotally connected.- The foregoing structure is common in the art,jand may be changed without :jfopardizngthe utility of the invention as hereinafter described.

FiXedto and depending from the top platform 6 are hangers 7. The hangers 7 are of U or trough shape in cross section and embody inner walls 8 and outer walls 9'. The upper ends of the legs 1 and 3 lie between the 7constituent walls 8 and 9 of the hangers The invention includes U-bolts 10, the

arms of which pass through the walls 8 and 9 of the hangers 7 and through the upper ends of the legs 1 and 3. The arms of the U-bolts, therefore, serve asa means where.`

by the legs 1 and 3 arepivotally connected with the top platform 6. Nuts 11 may be threaded onto thearms of the U-bolts 10,

the nuts 11 engaging the outer faces of the outer walls 9. Nuts 12 may be threaded onto the ends of the arms of the U-bolts 10, the nuts 12 engaging the inner faces of the inner walls 8 vof the hangers 7 The invention includes side props 14 having openings 15 at their upper ends, in which openings the curved portions of the U-bolts 10 are received. The props 14 may be equipped attheirvlower ends with rubber tips 16, enabling the lower ends of the props to secure a firm hold on the floor. Adjacent their lower ends, the props 15 are provided with slots 17. Threaded or otherwise mounted to rotate in the legs 1 are securing elements which may. be angle hooks 18, the angle hooks 18 being adapted to'coperate with the slots 17 in a manner to be described hereinafter. v y

In practical operation, when the props 14 are in outstanding relation to the legs of the ladder,l as delineated in Fig. 4, the ladder will be prevented Yfrom swaying or tilting sidewise.v

When the occasion for the use of the props 14 has passed, the props may be swung Y around until they abut against the outer curved portions ef the U-bolts 10, because the upper portions of the props are equipped with the openings 15. vWhen the props 14E lie against the outer sides of the legs 1 of the ladder, the angle hooks 18, which .pass through the slots 17, may be rotated, until the extremities of the angle hooks engage the props, and hold the props against the legs 1, in a manner which will be plain from Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is obvious that, if desired, the props 14 may be swung around against the rear legs 3.

It is not necessary that the nuts 11 and 12 be used. In Fig. 4: of the drawings, a slight modification of the invention has been shown. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, numerals previously used have been employed with the suffix a. In this form of the invention, the U-bolts 10PL are equipped with shoulders 11, replacing the nuts 11. In the place of the nuts 12, the ends of the arms of the U-bolts 10a are riveted down as shown at 12, onto the plates 8LPL of the hangers.

The construction of the device is such that the ladder can be used on the side of a hill or on uneven ground, without danger of upsetting.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed is A step ladder including a top; a U-member comprising arms assembled with the top legs mounted to swing on the arms of the U-member; and a side prop having its upper end mounted to travel on the bend of the U- member, circumferentially of the bend, whereby the prop may be rotated axially and be swung against one leg, into alinement therewith.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BOYD B. KEITH.

IVitnesses:

R. W. HARTMAN, C. E. RHoAns.

Copies of this patent may be obtaiired for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

